Mr.Bottomtooth
07-31-2007, 01:59 PM
Celtics complete deal for Garnett
Jeff Goodman
FOXSports.com, Updated 42 minutes ago
BOSTON - Kevin Garnett is coming to Boston — and he's going to stay for a while.
According to Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss, the 10-time NBA All-Star will likely be introduced at a news conference at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
According to multiple sources close to situation, Minnesota will send Garnett to Boston for five players and a pair of first-round draft picks. Al Jefferson is the centerpiece of the deal for Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, who will also get Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and a pair of 2009 first-round picks.
The Celtics' draft pick will be top-three protected and the other pick will be the one Minnesota originally dealt to Boston in the trade that sent Ricky Davis to the T'Wolves for Wally Szczerbiak.
According to sources, Garnett will also sign a three-year extension with the Celtics. He has two years left on his current deal.
Garnett, the league's MVP in 2004, had the option to opt out of his contract — which pays $22 million next season — after the 2008 campaign and become a free agent.
McHale tried feverishly to obtain Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo in the deal. However, Celtics boss Danny Ainge held out from trading Rondo — who will likely be the team's starting floor leader this season.
Ainge tried unsuccessfully to acquire the 31-year-old Garnett prior to the NBA Draft, but was able to land Ray Allen from Seattle for the No. 5 overall pick, Delonte West and Szczerbiak on the night of the draft.
Garnett didn't have any interest in heading to Boston prior to the draft, but now with Pierce and Allen in the fold, he had a change of heart. Garnett averaged 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season -- his 12th in the NBA.
The primary factor with the deal was Garnett agreeing to the multi-year deal to remain in Boston -- and figuring out the specifics regarding the 15 percent or $6.75 million trade kicker in Garnett's contract.
The trade gives Ainge and the Celtics, who finished 24-58 last season, a team that could compete with anyone in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Pierce missed 35 games a year ago due to injuries. With the trio of Pierce, Garnett and Allen, Boston would also have nearly $55 million in salaries between the three players for next season alone.
"There's no question that the Celtics could win the East," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "But they've got a lot of money tied up in those three players going forward."
The T'Wolves will get one of the league's top young players in the 22-year-old Jefferson, who averaged 16 points and 11 boards in 69 games a year ago. They would also get Ratliff's $11.7 million salary, which will come off the books after this season, and a big-time athlete in Green who has shown glimpses of potential.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7078764
Jeff Goodman
FOXSports.com, Updated 42 minutes ago
BOSTON - Kevin Garnett is coming to Boston — and he's going to stay for a while.
According to Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss, the 10-time NBA All-Star will likely be introduced at a news conference at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
According to multiple sources close to situation, Minnesota will send Garnett to Boston for five players and a pair of first-round draft picks. Al Jefferson is the centerpiece of the deal for Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale, who will also get Theo Ratliff and his expiring contract, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and a pair of 2009 first-round picks.
The Celtics' draft pick will be top-three protected and the other pick will be the one Minnesota originally dealt to Boston in the trade that sent Ricky Davis to the T'Wolves for Wally Szczerbiak.
According to sources, Garnett will also sign a three-year extension with the Celtics. He has two years left on his current deal.
Garnett, the league's MVP in 2004, had the option to opt out of his contract — which pays $22 million next season — after the 2008 campaign and become a free agent.
McHale tried feverishly to obtain Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo in the deal. However, Celtics boss Danny Ainge held out from trading Rondo — who will likely be the team's starting floor leader this season.
Ainge tried unsuccessfully to acquire the 31-year-old Garnett prior to the NBA Draft, but was able to land Ray Allen from Seattle for the No. 5 overall pick, Delonte West and Szczerbiak on the night of the draft.
Garnett didn't have any interest in heading to Boston prior to the draft, but now with Pierce and Allen in the fold, he had a change of heart. Garnett averaged 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season -- his 12th in the NBA.
The primary factor with the deal was Garnett agreeing to the multi-year deal to remain in Boston -- and figuring out the specifics regarding the 15 percent or $6.75 million trade kicker in Garnett's contract.
The trade gives Ainge and the Celtics, who finished 24-58 last season, a team that could compete with anyone in the Eastern Conference. The 29-year-old Pierce missed 35 games a year ago due to injuries. With the trio of Pierce, Garnett and Allen, Boston would also have nearly $55 million in salaries between the three players for next season alone.
"There's no question that the Celtics could win the East," said one high-ranking NBA executive. "But they've got a lot of money tied up in those three players going forward."
The T'Wolves will get one of the league's top young players in the 22-year-old Jefferson, who averaged 16 points and 11 boards in 69 games a year ago. They would also get Ratliff's $11.7 million salary, which will come off the books after this season, and a big-time athlete in Green who has shown glimpses of potential.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7078764